This time of year getting your sleep is more important than ever

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 28, 2014 8:00:00 AM

Pam_Young

You probably don’t need me to talk you into getting your rest during this holiday season, but I decided to give it a shot on this video clip anyway, because you do need your rest! Hey maybe just listening to me go on about something you already know will help put you to sleep.

Thank you for watching. I’d love to hear that you’ve used enlightened selfishness and are making rest a priority. 
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Start a New Family Holiday Tradition

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 21, 2014 8:00:00 AM

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 Sometimes things can get a little hectic on a holiday, especially if the gathering is at your house. Here is a grand idea to keep children busy for an hour or so before the festive meal is served. All you need is a sheet, some butcher paper (or newspapers) and marker pens. Let your little artists take over.

 
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Will Your Thanksgiving Day Feast be Organized? Or Not?

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 20, 2014 8:30:00 AM

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The following is an account of a disorganized Thanksgiving Day (from experience) and an organized one. I hope it makes you smile and plan ahead.

Thanksgiving Holiday Feast Plans:

Organized vs Disorganized

ORGANIZED SCHEDULE

6:00 a.m.   Exercise, shower, fix hair, put on make-up and dress in festive clothing.

7:30 a.m.   Say prayers, read inspirational material.

8:00 a.m.   Make bed, dress, eat a hearty, bacon and egg breakfast (no toast or  

                   potatoes) take a walk, and check appearance of the front door and

                   entryway.

9:00 a.m.  Stuff turkey with stuffing prepared yesterday, have children set holiday

                   table. (Silver was previously polished.)Boil potatoes (they were peeled

                   yesterday and have been soaking in cold water overnight). Make pies

                   (pumpkin filling, apple filling and dough were made yesterday and

                   refrigerated).

10:00 a.m. Listen to holiday music; check table, centerpiece and candles. Bake

                   pies. Whip potatoes and set aside to be micro-waved just before

                   serving.

11:00 a.m. Put turkey in the oven.

Noon         Prepare a light meal, soup and salad for family.

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Easy and Tasty Low-Carb Thanksgiving

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 19, 2014 9:00:00 AM

TRADITIONpam_young_headshot
 

Every year since my husband and I began a low-carb lifestyle, I question what to serve at my Thanksgiving feast. I always get a little troubled. So many questions pop into my head and once again I’m not sure I have the right answers that make me happy.

This Thanksgiving will be our fourth low-carb Thanksgiving! If it were just Terry and me, I’d be fine, but I wonder if I should impose our lifestyle on our family, especially when it messes with TRADITION? turkeyHow will they like mashed celery root and gravy made with arrow root as opposed to mashed potatoes and gravy made with flour? Should I make both? I’ve got a wonderful cookbook entitled Paleo Comfort Food and there’s a recipe for bread using almond flour (which we love) and I could make dressing out of it, BUT I know the family will be expecting the dressing to taste, well, like it used to.

Do I break tradition and maybe disappoint them. Am I willing to risk that?

Well, now that my troubles are on the table, I’ll address each one. How will “they” like mashed celery root? They’ll love it! If you didn’t know it was celery root, you’d think it was potato. I heartily believe in the cardinal rule (does “cardinal come from the bird or the high up guy in the Catholic Church?) to never try a new recipe on company. Since I won’t have time to try mashing cauliflower, I’ll serve my standard and very tasty mashed potatoes even though they’re loaded with carbs (I’ll just have a taste and it’ll be very nice) and I’ll make gravy as usual too (with cornstarch because Terry is gluten intolerant and that’s how I’ve made it for 25 years).

I think I’ll bake the almond flour bread and make stuffing from that loaf, but I’m going to server sour dough rolls (my new doctor told me, “If you’re going to eat bread on special occasions eat sour dough”) and butter. I’ll also serve a fruit salad (which will be the first fruit I’ve had since the August wild blackberries we picked) and figure it’ll be one of those once-a-year treats.

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Topics: Recipes

Easy and Tasty Low-Carb Thanksgiving

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 19, 2014 9:00:00 AM

TRADITIONpam_young_headshot
 

Every year since my husband and I began a low-carb lifestyle, I question what to serve at my Thanksgiving feast. I always get a little troubled. So many questions pop into my head and once again I’m not sure I have the right answers that make me happy.

This Thanksgiving will be our fourth low-carb Thanksgiving! If it were just Terry and me, I’d be fine, but I wonder if I should impose our lifestyle on our family, especially when it messes with TRADITION? turkeyHow will they like mashed celery root and gravy made with arrow root as opposed to mashed potatoes and gravy made with flour? Should I make both? I’ve got a wonderful cookbook entitled Paleo Comfort Food and there’s a recipe for bread using almond flour (which we love) and I could make dressing out of it, BUT I know the family will be expecting the dressing to taste, well, like it used to.

Do I break tradition and maybe disappoint them. Am I willing to risk that?

Well, now that my troubles are on the table, I’ll address each one. How will “they” like mashed celery root? They’ll love it! If you didn’t know it was celery root, you’d think it was potato. I heartily believe in the cardinal rule (does “cardinal come from the bird or the high up guy in the Catholic Church?) to never try a new recipe on company. Since I won’t have time to try mashing cauliflower, I’ll serve my standard and very tasty mashed potatoes even though they’re loaded with carbs (I’ll just have a taste and it’ll be very nice) and I’ll make gravy as usual too (with cornstarch because Terry is gluten intolerant and that’s how I’ve made it for 25 years).

I think I’ll bake the almond flour bread and make stuffing from that loaf, but I’m going to server sour dough rolls (my new doctor told me, “If you’re going to eat bread on special occasions eat sour dough”) and butter. I’ll also serve a fruit salad (which will be the first fruit I’ve had since the August wild blackberries we picked) and figure it’ll be one of those once-a-year treats.

I Hope You'll Want To Read More...

Topics: Recipes

A No Stress Thanksgiving

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 14, 2014 8:00:00 AM

Pam_Young

Don't let Thanksgiving stress you out. Take couple minutes and watch this video clip where I give you ideas to reduce stress.

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Deadline has the Word Dead in it

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 13, 2014 9:30:00 AM

pam_young_headshotAs most of you know, my husband is a BOP (Born Organized Person). Opposites attract. We’ve recently been working on the launch of our new website www.cluborganized.com which is slated to be live on January 1, 2015.welcome_to_bratland_color_New I originally gave myself a deadline of November 15th to have it all finished. (Oh my, we SHEs are optimistic!) I’m sure that when my BOP husband heard the word deadline, he got all excited! (BOPs love a deadline so they can meet it and cross it off their list.)

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Flylady Marla says Be Kind to Yourself

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 7, 2014 9:00:00 AM

So many of us rely and depend on the lessons Marla provides us with. Marla and I sat and talked at one point and this was one of the most important things to come out of that chat.

 

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Topics: Daily Thought,, Tools for Moms, Being a Mom

Mrs Claus Shares Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 6, 2014 9:00:00 AM

                                 House_Fairy_next_to_tree-001

 

Mrs. Claus Shares Stocking Stuffer Ideas for the 5 Senses

The House Fairy and I recently took a trip up to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus and see what’s new in the stocking stuffer department. Mrs. Claus is in charge of that and she was very happy to show us her latest ideas for stuffers.

She starts each season with an empty shoebox for each child and by Christmas Eve the shoeboxes are filled with all the goodies she has collected for each one and the contents fit perfectly into the stockings Santa puts them in on Christmas Eve. She explained this year all good boys and girls will receive gifts in their stockings which please each of the five senses. She told us her husband fills stockings for all ages, so her ideas range from those for small children to those for teenagers and even moms and dads who have been good.

The Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney with Care

Gifts for the ears: ear

CDs

Earrings

Muffs

Whistles

Mp3 players

Concert tickets

Radios

Ipods

Earplugs

Gifts for the nose: nose

Perfume

Room deodorizer

Candles

Incense

Nose plugs

Breath Spray

Certs

Tic Tacs

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6 Ways Quiet Time Can Make Your Day Better

Posted by Pam Young

Nov 5, 2014 8:00:00 AM

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Take time daily to be alone with yourself, away from phones, the Internet and noise. Making time for solitude is a gift you give yourself. Insist on it, and don’t allow anyone, including yourself, to talk you out of it.

Here are what I consider six benefits of quiet time.

1. Lighten Up

In a stressed state, it’s so easy to lose touch with inner peace, compassion and kindness; in a relaxed state, your mind is clear and you can connect with a deeper sense of purpose and good. Meditation and medication are derived from the Latin word medicus, to care or to cure. A time of quiet calmness is, therefore, the most effective remedy for a busy and overworked mind. Anytime you feel stress rising, heart closing, mind going into overwhelm, just bring your focus to your breathing and quietly repeat with each in-and-out breath: Breathing in, I calm my body and mind; breathing out, All is well.

2. Let Go

Stillness is always there between the thoughts, behind the drama, underneath the noise. What keeps us from experiencing our natural state of peace is the habitual and ego-dominated monkey mind. Meditation enables us to see clearly, to witness our thoughts and behavior and reduce self-involvement. Without such a practice of self-reflection there’s no way of putting a brake on the ego’s demands. From being self-centered, we can become other-centered, concerned about the welfare of all.

3. Gratitude

Take a moment to appreciate the chair you’re sitting on. Consider how the chair was made: the wood, cotton, wool, or other fibers, the trees and plants that were used, the earth that grew the trees, the sun and rain, the animals that maybe gave their lives, the people who prepared the materials, the factory where the chair was made, the designer and carpenter and seamstress, the shop that sold it—all this just so you could be sitting here, now. Then extend that deep appreciation to everything and everyone in your life.

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Topics: Daily Thought,, Monday Morning for Moms

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